Italy experienced a significant rise in import prices, with a 9.6% increase recorded in September compared to the same month last year. This acceleration follows a 7.3% annual rise in August, highlighting a continued upward pressure on the costs associated with imported goods.
On a month-to-month basis, import prices rose by 1.9% from August to September. Meanwhile, the country’s exports increased by 3.8% year-on-year in September, and imports grew by 3.6% over the same period. Notably, export growth was more robust in markets outside the European Union, which saw a 5.8% increase, while exports to EU countries rose by only 2.1%.
Despite the increase in import costs, Italy managed to maintain a trade surplus of €2.083 billion in September, underscoring the higher value of exports over imports. However, when looking at the figures month-to-month, exports slightly declined by 0.2%, while imports saw a more substantial increase of 3.3% from August to September.